...Earthquakes - the reason why. The surface of the earth is comprised of plates of stable matter that are subject to movement. This movement causes stress along the boundary line where the plates meet, resulting earthquakes. The volcanic "ring of Fire" that encircles the Pacific passes through New Zealand from North to South. The islands are actually astride the boundary of the Pacific and Indian plates. The Pacific plate is being forced beneath the Indian plate under the North Island, and in Fiordland the floor of the Tasman Sea (Indian Plate) is being forced under the South Island (Pacific Plate) In an average year New Zealand has from 60 to 100 earthquakes recording between 4 and 5 on the Richter Scale, from 10 to 20 between 5 and 6 and one 6 or higher.

...Volcanoes - Five volcanoes have been active in the North Island in the past century - Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, Tongariro, Tarawera and White Island. There are no really active volcanoes in the South Island.

1846 Earthquakes - 60 people were killed by a lahar (mudflow) in a landslide in the Hipawa thermal area. The casualties were at Te Rapa village near Waihi which was destroyed.

1847 Floods - June July serious floods ravaged Hawke's Bay.1848 Earthquakes - Oct 16-24. 3 people died when a series of earthquakes shook much of the country. Felt especially in Wellington and Taranaki, the highest intensity as at Marlborough and after shocks continued for at least 10 months.

1853 Earthquakes. - 1 January. An earthquake estimated at 6.5 shook New Plymouth and was felt on both sides of Cook Strait.

1855 Earthquakes - January 23. 5 people died when an earth quake estimated at 8.1 shook both islands. One of New Zealand's worst earthquakes it caused faulting and splitting of the land and there were many after shocks. Brick buildings in Wellington and the Wairarapa area were destroyed and the roads leading out of Wellington were blocked.

1857 Floods - January 17. Nine people died as a result of floods in the Hutt Valley....September. Severe flooding in Wanganui.1861 Eruptions. February 13. A lahar from Mt Ruapehu damaged a road bridge. This was followed in May by an ash eruption of Mt. Ruapehu.

1868 Tidal Wave. A tidal wave thought to have originated in Peru, caused damage on the East
Coast. The following day an earthquake was felt in parts of both islands.

1869 Eruptions. The upper Te Mari crater as formed in an eruption of Mt. Tongariro1870 Eruptions. April. Lava flowed down the sides of Mt. Ngaruahoe.1872 Droughts. January. A water shortage in Auckland. Thousands of gallons were pumped daily from the wells of Secombe's Brewery for sale to the public.

1874 Floods. Large scale flooding when 584mm of rain fell in Gisborne.

1875 Floods. November. Hamilton severely damaged by the flooding of the Waikato River.
...Earthquakes. September 14. A shock damaged Gisborne, Blenheim and Wellington.1876 Earthquakes. February 26. An earthquake centred on Oamaru was followed by a series of tremors throughout North Otago lasting until April. One on the 28 February was severe.

1877 Floods. February. Damage caused and one person died when the Motueka River flooded.
...February. Heavy rain and flooding in Dunedin1878 Floods. September-October. Lives lost in heavy flooding in Central and South Otago when heavy snow thawed. Settlements affected were Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, Clyde, Roxburgh, Millers Flat and Balclutha where a bridge collapsed.

1886 Eruptions. June 10. A major eruption of Mt. Tarawera accompanied by earthquakes, caused damage and casualties with an estimated 153 killed.
...The Pink and White Terraces. With this eruption the Terraces, two of the world's natural wonders were completely obliterated. They were natural staircases covering almost 3 ha. which had been formed beneath springs and geysers on the shores of Lake Rotomahana.